Telpher system.



B. W. HARRIS.

TELPHER SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION TILED JUNE18,1908.

Panama June 15,1909,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

QINVENTOR aim BY I Qa J/z/ v@/// ATTORNEYS WITNESSES:

B. W. HARRIS.

TELPHER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18,1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7 when the main plan view of one of said cars.

elevation of the cars and the supporting and' UNITE era as PA BARNETT V. HARRIS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN TELPHER L FFICF OO)IPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TELPI-IER sYs'rEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Application filed June 18, 1908. Serial No. 439,199.

' Improvement in T elpher Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tclpher system in which the cars or trains are propelled by individual electric motors.

1n the tclpher systems heretofore in use the cars or trains were disconnected from each other which is objectionable because one car or train is liable to travel faster than another and cause a collision and a break down of the system. Furthermore, cars or trains which are unconnected require motors of suflicient power to draw each of them up the steepest grade which involves unnecessary expense for equipment particularly part of the line is' comparatively. level.

The object of this invention is the production of a tclpher system of this character in which collisions are impossible and which'can be installed at less cost and operated with less power than-has been necessary in the systems heretofore in use.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of 2 sheets: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of my im roved tclpher system showing two cars an the means for supportmg and operating the same. Fig. 21s a top Fig. 3 is an operating means. Fig. 4 is adiagrammatic perspective view of a tclpher system emodying my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization my improved tclpher system com rises a plurality of cars or trains some or a of which are provided with electric motors'which are distributed among the several cars or trains so that the load is divided among the same and'power is applied at intervals for drawing. the load, means'for mechanically coupling the several cars or trains so that together they form an endless system of carriers, an endless track upon which said cars or trains run, and which forms one of the conductors whereby the electric current is supplied to the-several motors, an electrical connection carried by for operating said motors.

said cars or trains and forming the other con ductor for supplying the electric current to said motors, and an electric generator connected on opposite sides with said conductors tern thus organized permits of utilizing electric motors of much smaller horse power than has been necessary heretofore, inasmuch as the cars moving up grade are assisted by gravitation of other cars oing down grade, so that thetrack as a who e is practically reduced to a level because each up grade is offset by a corresponding down grade. It will thus be apparent that only so much poweris required as would be necessary to move a load on a level at a predetermined speed and that the cost of installation can therefore be materially reduced. Inasmuch as the cars or trains are all coupled with one another it will also be apparent that the same cannot approach each other but are positively held apart, thereby absolutely preventing. collisions between cars and insuring the system against break down or interruption from this cause.

A represents the continuous or endless track which may be of any suitable form and arranged either overhead, underground or on the surface of the ground, but as shownin the drawings the same consists of a wire cable and is supported above the ground by means of arms I) projecting laterally from'posts or poles 13 set in the ground. Upon this track are supported the cars or trains which run on the same. The body O of each car is'prcl'erably suspended at its opposite ends by hangers or links D, D from the axles d, d of wheels E, E which latter are provided with peripheral grooves whereby the ,same run on the cable track.

F represents the electric motors whereby the and trams are driven. If desired,

each of these cars may-be provided with an. individual electric motor which terms part of the electric translating means for operatin the entire system,.such an arrangement bein shown in the lower part of Fig. 4, or a car having a motor may be coupled with one or more trailing cars which are unprovided with motors, as shown in the upper part of the same figure. When a car is provided with a motor the latter is referably mounted on a saddle which yie dingl connects the axles of the car and whici preferably consists of a rigid arm G carrying A tclpher sys the motor and pivotally connected with one of the axles of the respective car and a leaf spring H pivotally connected with the other axle of the same car and connected with the v armjG. This rXotor is operatively connected E. The latter is preferably madeof metal and electrically connected with one side of the motor and the track serves as an electrical conductor which is connected with one terminal of a.n on electric generator J which is located at any suitableplace. The other side of the motor is connected with an endless conduct-or K which is supported by the several cars, and which moves in contact with a brush or wheel or connected with the other terminal of the" electrical generator. T he electrical conductor K may be secured to one of the hangers of the car, as shown in Figs.,3 and 4, and is prefcrabl y madesufhciently strong so as to serve as themechanical connector or coupling be tween adjacent cars or trains but if desired the same maybe utilized solely for conduct ing the electric current and separate means may be employed for connecting the cars or trains, such for instance as the links K which connect the car bodies on the upper part of Fig. 4.

In the operation of this systemthe cars or trains may be run continuously and their loads discharged automatically at predetermined places or the same; may be stopped Whenever it is desired to take on or put oil a' cargo in any one or moreof the 'cars or trains.

By thus distributing the electric motors among the cars and trains at intervals along the entire'line, ower isapplied to the system at a pluraity of points, whereby the strain upon' the connections between the several cars or trains is distributed uniformly over the same'and renders it unnecessary to make the connection unduly heavy as would be the case 1f the power were applied The means I only at one point which would-make it necessary to'increase the strength of the cable or connection in proportion to the length of the trains or cars and the load carriedby the same,

I claim as my invention 1 Atel her system comprisingaplurality of earsfconnected. with each other in an endless series, an electric motor ahanged on one or more of siudcars; a track upon which said. ears run and which forms one of the electric conductors for said motor or motors, an electric conductor carried by said cars, and an electric generator having its terminals connected with said conductors.

A telpher system com rising a plurality of cars connected with eac other in an endless series, an electric motorarranged. on one or more of said cars, a track upon which said cars run and which forms a stationary electric conductor tor said motor or motors, a movable conductor supported by said'cars,

and an electric generator having one of its terminals connected with the stationary conductor while its other terminalis connected with a brush which engages the movable eon duetor.

3 A telpher system comprising a pluralityof cars connected with each other in an endless series, an electric motor arranged on one or more ol' said cars, a track upon which said cars run and which forms a stationary electric conductor for said motor or motors, a movable conductor connecting the several cars, and an electricvgenerator having its terminals electrically connected with said stationary and movable conductors. 4. A telphersystem comprisin forming an electrical conductor, w eels mnning on the track, hangers suspended from the axles of said wheels a body carried by said hangers; a saddle having an armconnected with t'e axle of one wheel and a a connect d with the axle of the othersprin wheel, and an; electric motor mounted on said arm and gopcratively connected with the adjacent wlhcel.

l'Vitncss my hand this 12th day of June, 1908.

BARNETT W. HARRIS.

Witnesses: 4 I

Tnno. L. PoPP, E. M. GRAHAM. I

a track 

